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LETS BE LAVISH WITH PRAISE
Arizona Republic
April 7, 2007
Estimated printed pages: 2
A high five goes to Jonathan Horton of Gilbert and Pooja Paode of Chandler, two
finalists in this year's Arizona Spelling Bee. Horton won the competition plus a
shot at participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.,
next month. And we'll be rooting for him.
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It certainly wasn't scientific, but a whopping 83 percent of respondents to an
online Tempe Republic poll said they would ride a neighborhood circulator
shuttle if it stopped in their neighborhood. Our expert, unscientific analyzing
device says this poll is yet another reason cities should be pushing to offer
cheap, convenient mass transit.
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Not that Mesa Arts Academy needed a visit from U.S. Education Secretary Margaret
Spellings to know it was doing a good job. The fact that every one of its
eighth-graders passed the AIMS test last year, even with a high population of
low-income and English-learner students, is proof enough. But the charter school
deserves a high five for catching Spellings' eye. It may one day influence how
thousands of other at-risk students are taught across the nation.
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A couple of weeks ago, we praised Ahwatukee's Corpus Christi Catholic Church for
taking up Father Albert Francis Hoorman's idea to raise 40,000 cans of food for
his 40 years of service at the church. And wow! Parishioners deserve a high five
for more than doubling that goal. They are making a huge, positive impact on the
area's needy.
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An A-OK goes to the 1,000 or so people who brought their dogs to Gabriel's
Angels sixth annual Walk for Kids and Doggie Beach Party on Saturday. The event,
held at Cosmo Dog Park in Gilbert for the first time this year, raised $25,000
after expenses for the Mesa-based charity, which provides pet therapy for
neglected and abused kids.
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And an A-OK goes to those who attended the dog show Sunday at the Ahwatukee
Community Swim and Tennis Center, raising more than $400. Funds will go to MASH
(Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Animal Safe Hospice) and to the Arizona Humane
Society.
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A high five goes to Ty Leon of Gilbert who was recently crowned Best Teen Chef
in Arizona. In between attending Gilbert High and the East Valley Institute of
Technology, he works evenings at Taneko Japanese Tavern. The 17-year-old senior
plans on going to college and opening a restaurant.
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An A-OK goes to the employees in the Chandler City Clerk's Office who have
processed a high volume of passports lately, following a new policy requiring
that travelers flying to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean have one. Chandler is
the only Southeast Valley municipality to offer passport services.
CAPTION: 1. Jonathan Horton CAPTION: 2. Pooja Paode
Edition: Final Chaser
Section: Mesa Republic East
Page: 22
Column: OUR VIEW - HIGH FIVES
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